what would it be like to own/run one of those little old v4 saabs??

[bolognasal spray]

Such a massive soft spot for these. Lovely shape, weird engine config (is it from the ford van? was it in the corsair?). What would it be like to own and run one today? Are there many out there still or have they all been restored to hell. I have actually ridden in one - but it was a very long time ago. My then gf's friend had one that her dad bought for her. I was thrilled when I clapped eyes on it, and she was really happy that someone else saw it as a "thing." Everyone else just took the piss out of her (this was the late '80s) because she had such a weird old scando shed. So yes, I've got sentimental reasons for lovin 'em. But damn it they look so ace. I keep coming back to the idea, again and again. But they'd be so dear nowadays. Would they be simple to maintain mechanically or are they weird and horrendous to work on? Are they as fun to drive as they look like they would be??

 

The 96 -

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I love these, The Saab Slug. The Cologne 1500/1700 V4 isn't as grim as the UK version that, when properly built, was a lot better than its reputation suggests. I'd still prefer a sixties two stroke.

[Guest Hooli]

Nibbet is restoring on on here as far as I recall.

[artdjones]

I own an opal green one just like that which has been off the road for 8 years. I'm slowly moving towards recommissioning it this winter.They are most interesting to drive and pretty tough mechanically, although the gearbox wants watching.The main problem to watch for is rust, although repair sections can be got fairly reasonably through Svenska Saabklubben.Some cars rot like a banana,while others, including my own, remain almost completely solid.

[wuvvum]

I've had half a dozen of these - they're great.  Not brilliant on fuel for the performance, but then that's a characteristic of the Ford V4 (it's the Cologne in these by the way, not the Essex, so not the same as the Corsair).  They are great fun to drive though, keep up with modern traffic and handle quite well in a roly-poly sort of way (although they do understeer a bit more than the 2-strokes due to the weight of the V4).  They rot, but no worse than any other car of the era really.  They are comfortable on a long run and being Swedish the heater and wipers are pretty good for the age of the design. 

 

I'd definitely have another if prices hadn't gone daft for decent ones.

[artdjones]

Oh yes,they are a bit unconventional mechanically but easy enough to work on.The factory workshop manual can be downloaded from the net.

[wuvvum]

Oh, if you want more power the 2.3 V6 from the Mk2 Granada is a fairly easy swap - although the gearbox would then become a service item.

[Vantman]

This is my old 95,good fun to drive when you have mastered clutchless gear changes courtesy of the freewheel. They do like to rust though. An acquired taste.

 

 

[bolognasal spray]

Shee-it, that's ace. So want. Had forgotten about the estates. They're even betterer!

[DSdriver]

Did they have freewheel on the front hubs or was that just the 2strokes and can someone explain what it was about?

[cobblers]

The freewheel is because 2 strokes are oiled through the fuel - On a long descent the engine will be doing a fair few RPM but with zero throttle, so as a result the engine will be under oiled and knacker up

 

The freewheel just lets the engine idle while coasting, keeping the oil flow rate vs RPM balance reasonable.

[HMC]

I had one in about 2004. Fun to drive, and brilliantly odd with the freewheel. I used mine as my daily for a good long while, complete usability, as wuvvum said thirsty for the level of go. Miss mine. NDL170M where are you now?

[artdjones]

The freewheel is inside the gearbox. It can be locked in or out.Great for clutchless gear changes.

[dollywobbler]

Quite amusing as the first post is my pic I think!

 

You might enjoy these if you've not seen them yet.

[JeeExEll]

Really interesting extensive rally history with these. Could become obsessive if you bought one. I think a 96 would make a great project / hobby car or daily driver.

[Fumbler]

Quite amusing as the first post is my pic I think!

 

You might enjoy these if you've not seen them yet.

I was just about to recommend him. He's still diagnosing faults with his mods though.

[wuvvum]

Shee-it, that's ace. So want. Had forgotten about the estates. They're even betterer!

7 seats too.

[Guest Hooli]

I can haz founderated the restore thread http://autoshite.com/topic/25422-i-boughted-a-saab/?p=1048455

[xtriple]

My ex sister in law was between cars back in the early 90s, she absolutely adored the look of the SAAB 96 and wanted one desperately! Yes, she was quite weird and still is   I hunted high and low and the only one I could find was a tatty black thing for £200. But she WANTED it!

 

So it was purchased and for the next two years it drove up and down from Devon to that there London on a monthly basis and did the commute in London as well. The only things that ever went wrong with it were: the rear shock absorber made an appearance into the boot one day when she had just set off back to home so a frantic session with the mig had her solid on both sides and SIL on her merry way to London. Oh, and some cack-handed mechanic in the metropolis managed to fuck the gearbox so reverse could not be selected. She got it back down here and after a bit of peering and fiddling discovered the bugger had bent a bracket by the steering column that was getting in the way of reverse. Once bent back, all gears were restored.

 

I didn't drive it a lot but on the odd occasion I did, I really liked it, massive amounts of fun and I loved the column change though the freewheel rarely (if ever?) was used. In the end, it was getting too tatty and unkempt and Nic had a new job where she had to travel so a new Citroen LNA was purchased (told you she was weird!) and the SAAB traded in for peanuts.

[Saabnut]

I have 2 x V4 96s, one in the same Opal Green which needs looking at and a yellow spares car. These are the latest in a long line, rather as you would expect! They are great fun but can get under your skin - so GIB!

 

BTW the story of the freewheel being to stop a two stroke seizing on over-run are nothing but a myth. There is plenty of oil even on over-run, they were fitted as an economy measure pure and simple, two strokes are relatively heavy on fuel and to get better figures, the freewheel was fitted. It carried on to the early 99s before being dropped.

 

Most spares can be obtained via Saabits in the UK, with the Swedish Klub being needed for relatively few obscure bits. There are several first class specialists for early Saabs.

[forddeliveryboy]

Awesome little cars, tough in almost every way. Ideal for EM conversion if a solid one can be found with blown engine.

[wuvvum]

It carried on to the early 99s before being dropped.

Must have been dropped pretty quickly - my '71 car didn't have it.  Or was it only the 1700cc engine which got it?

[Saabnut]

Yes, only the 1709s had the freewheel. Not many survive.

[wuvvum]

Not surprised - mine was the rather-less-obscure 1854cc version and even that was a total twat to find parts for.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Such a massive soft spot for these. Lovely shape, weird engine config (is it from the ford van? was it in the corsair?). What would it be like to own and run one today? Are there many out there still or have they all been restored to hell. I have actually ridden in one - but it was a very long time ago. My then gf's friend had one that her dad bought for her. I was thrilled when I clapped eyes on it, and she was really happy that someone else saw it as a "thing." Everyone else just took the piss out of her (this was the late '80s) because she had such a weird old scando shed. So yes, I've got sentimental reasons for lovin 'em. But damn it they look so ace. I keep coming back to the idea, again and again. But they'd be so dear nowadays. Would they be simple to maintain mechanically or are they weird and horrendous to work on? Are they as fun to drive as they look like they would be??

 

In my experience so far; by and large easy to work on apart from a rather convoluted cooling system and a full length floor plan meaning that you have to take the engine/gearbox out to do some jobs (although the front panel is easy to remove).

Parts availability pretty good, owing to several specialists and a fairly good survival rate. Quite perky even unmodified, very old fashioned, almost '40s feel to drive, a narrow body, small windscreen and big steering wheel.

Very odd really, certainly for anyone younger, yet very appealing and with an honesty about their construction shared with cars such as the Renault 4 and 2CV.

I can see myself becoming quite addicted to them and ideally owning a second...

[GeordieInExile]

These are basically a heavily modified 40s design aren't they? Saab really were experts at squeezing every last day of life out of a design.

[Uncle Jimmy]

These are basically a heavily modified 40s design aren't they? Saab really were experts at squeezing every last day of life out of a design.

Yep, the Ursaab originated in 1944 I believe and was incrementally improved all the way up to 1980. Volvo were very similar in their approach, the PV444 came out in '44 and lasted until 1971, the Amazon '56-'71 and the 240 '74-93...There's a thread there I think. Can't think of anything that lasted longer than the '96 though.

[GeordieInExile]

Don't forget the late sixties 99 being heavily modified to become the 900 and survive up to the mid 90s! The 9000 lasted a solid 14 years as well iirc.

[chaseracer]

I had 'Silver Jubilee' edition #148/300 for a year or so, 1993-94; one of those cars I regret selling, but needs must.  Last I checked, JTD179P was still on SORN somewhere.

[Ian_Fearn]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-96-V4-fuel-injected-jenvey-sport-and-rally-one-of-a-kind/173523719100?hash=item2866d1d3bc:g:YB0AAOSwMzVbk-Kv